Actuating mechanism for a latch

ABSTRACT

Actuating mechanism for a door latch which has a movable element assuming a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position. A first control means controls the opening of the latch and a separate second control means controls the locking of the latch. A rocker element is operatively connected to each control means and to the movable element. A device is adapted to bring the rocker element to, and lock it in, a position in which the movable element is placed in the latch locking position when the second control means is brought to a latch locking position.

United States Patent Bonnaud [451 May 30, 1972 ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR A LATCH Inventor: Michel Bonnaud, Montbeliard, France Assignees: Automobiles Peugeot, Paris; Regie Nationale Des Usines Renault, Billancourt, France Filed: Sept. 11, 1970 Appl.No.: 71,312

Foreign Application Priority Data Field of Search .292/336.3, 216, DIG. 23, DIG. 24, 292/DIG. 26, DIG. 27, 198

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,525,545 8/1970 Leslie ....292/2 1 6 3,388,940 6/1968 Dale ....292/2l6 2,985,477 5/1961 Priestman ..292/336.3

Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe AttorneyBurns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis [5 7] ABSTRACT Actuating mechanism for a door latch which has a movable element assuming a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position. A- first control means controls the opening of the latch and a separate second control means controls the locking of the latch. A rocker element is operatively connected to each control means and to the movable element. A device is adapted to bring the rocker element to, and lock it in, a position in which the movable element is placed in the latch locking position when the second control means is brought to a latch locking position.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing figures PATENTEDMAY 30 I972 SHEET 20F 3 inla FATENTEUHAY 3 0 1972 SHEET 3 [IF 3 The present invention relates to latch actuating mechanisms, in particular for automobile vehicle doors or the like.

It is known that the rear doors of automobile vehicles have a latch which is normally opened from the interior or the exterior by suitable control means. Usually locking means are also provided which preclude the opening of the door by shifting the exterior control means so as to prevent access to the interior of the vehicle. However, if the interior control means also serve to efiect the opening of the lock and actuate the latch mechanism, this does not prevent opening of the door from the interior.

This possibility of opening the door from the interior, even when the latch is locked, is forbidden by safety regulations of some countries.

The utilization of a locking mechanism independent of the latch opening control means overcomes this drawback but requires two different rods for effecting, on one hand, the opening of the latch and, on the other hand, its locking, complicates the latch mechanism and takes up a large amount of space.

The object of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks while allowing the utilization of the simple latches in common use.

The invention provides a control mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions, namely a neutral or latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two distinct control means, the first control means controlling the opening of the latch, and the second control means controlling the locking of the latch, wherein a rocker element is directly connected, or indirectly connected, to each of the control means and to the movable element of the latch, and a device is adapted to bring said rocker element to and lock it in a position in which the movable element is placed in its latch locking position when said second control means is brought to its latch locking positron.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rocker element is connected by a single rod to the movable element of the lock, the first control means is a lever mounted to rotate about a fixed axis and directly pivoted to said rocking element, and the second control means is a rod connected to a lever mounted to rotate about a fixed axis and pivoted to the rocking element, the latter comprising a finger portion which co-operates with a guide slot in a fixed plate integral with the door.

In this mechanism, the two control means are separate and when the second control means is brought to its latch locking position, it shifts the rocking element in such manner as to bring the movable element of the latch to its latch locking position, the rocking element being automatically locked in the position which prevents the opening of the latch by any actuation of the first control means.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts cut away, of the inside of a door of an automobile vehicle equipped with a latch actuating mechanism according to the invention FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of this mechanism on an enlarged scale FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side elevational views of the mechanism in two different positions The actuating mechanism M which will now be described is assumed to be employed for actuating a latch S of a door P of a vehicle.

This latch is conventional and comprises in particular a movable element or lever L having a double function, that is, it is adapted to open and lock the latch, the lever L being mounted to rotate about a pin a and being movable to three positions embodied in the drawings by three segments which connect the pin a to three points 0, N and V. These three positions correspond respectively to the opening of the latch, to a neutral position and to a locked latch position. The lever L is 5 connected to one end T of an actuating rod T whose other end T, is connected to the mechanism M.

The mechanism M (FIG. 3) comprises a plate 1 having a flange 1a interrupted at lb. The plate 1 is fixed by means of two screws 2 and 3'to the door of the vehicle. This plate has an opening or slot 4 having a shape in the form of an inverted curved L, the two branches of which are respectively designated by the references 4a and 412. Two slots 5 and circular openings 6 and 7 are also provided in this plate.

A housing 8 provided with tabs 9 which fit into the slots 5 is adapted to complete the plate 1 and cover a part of the mechanism M. The housing 8 has an aperture 10 which is adapted to be aligned with the aperture 6 of the plate and to receive a pin or spindle 11. A lateral slot 12 whose function will be explained hereinafter is also provided in one of the tabs 9 The pin 11 is adapted to receive, rotatably mounted thereon, a lever 13 having an aperture 14, this lever constituting the interior latch control means. The lever 13 carries, at

the end thereof opposed to the actuating end, a pin 15 which is for example riveted.

A rocker element 16 having two apertures 17 and 18 is pivotably mounted on the pin 15 and connected to the bent end portion T of the rod T. The rocker element 16 has a finger portion 19 which is received in the slot 4 and an abutment or rubbing portion 20 which is in contact with one of the branches of'a spring 21 having the shape of a hairpin. The spring 21 is held in position in that a projecting portion 22 is engaged in the lateral slot 12 in the housing 8. The spring 21 normally tends to maintain the mechanism in the position shown in FIG. 2.

The mechanism is completed by a lever 23 for locking the door whichis rotatably mounted on a pin 24 engaged in the aperture 7 of the plate and is capable of being shifted by 0 means of a pull-rod 25. At the end of the lever 23 opposed to the pull-rod 25, the lever 23 has an oblong aperture 26 through which the finger portion 19 of the rocker element 16 extends.

No description will be given here of the control means for opening the door from the exterior as these means and their connection with the latch are conventional.

The operation of the mechanism will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4'and 5. In the normal neutral position of the latch shown in FIG. 2 and in dot-dash line in FIG. 4, the rocker element 16 is held by the action of the spring 21 in such position that the lever L of the latch is in its neutral position. If it is desired to open the latch, the pull-rod 25 being in the lower or non-locking position, it is sufficient to shift the lever 13 in the direction of arrow F shown in FIG. 4 so as to bring it to the position shown in full line. In the course of this movement, the lever 13 rotates about the pin 1 1 so that the pin 15 also turns about the pin 1 l and shifts the rocker element 16 to the left (as viewed in the drawing). This movement of the rocker element is made possible by the fact that the finger portion 19 integral with the rocker element is in the region of the branch 4b of the guide slot 4.

Movement of the rocker element 16 to the left shifts the rod T and the lever L so that this lever is brought to its position for opening the latch. This movement is shown by the two letters N and O in FIG. 4 which respectively correspond to the neutral position and latch opening position of the lever L.

If the lever 13 is released, the spring 21, which was compressed by the abutment 20, returns the mechanism to its initial position shown in dot-dash line in FIG. 4.

To lock the latch, it is sufficient to raise the pull-rod 25 and bring it to the position shown in FIG. 5. This causes the lever 23 to rotate about the pin 24 and shifts downwardly the end of the lever surrounding the finger portion 19 of the rocker element 16. At the end of this movement the finger portion 19 is located at the end of the branch 4a of the slot 4. Movement of the finger portion 19in the downward direction causes the rocker element 16 to rotate about the pin 15, which remains fixed, and results in a corresponding movement to the right (as viewed in the drawing) of the rod T. This has for efiect to bring the lever L of the latch to its locking position V (corresponding to the position V' shown in FIG. 5).

It will be observed that this position of the mechanism is a stable position, even when the pull-rod 25 is released, this pull-rod remaining in its upper position. Further, in this position, it is impossible to move the lever 13 in the direction of arrow F, that is, in the direction for opening the latch S, since the finger portion 19 is blocked by the wall of the slot 4, a wedging action being produced against the end of this slot. In other words, the lever 23 and the rocker element 16 constitute a toggle arrangement which passes through an intermediate position, when the pull-rod 25 is shifted upwardly or downwardly, in which the pins l5, l9 and 24 are in alignment. In one of the extreme positions (FIG. 2), the articulation 19, 26 of the toggle arrangement can move owing to the presence of the branch 40 of the slot and to the oblong shape of the slot 26, whereas in the second extreme position (FIG. 5), this articulation is held locked by the formal connection or positive connection between the finger portion 19 and the branch 4a of the slot 4.

Thus, the structure of the invention performs its function perfectly well so that it is impossible to shift the lever 13 in the direction for opening the latch when the pull-rod 25 is in its position for locking the latch S.

Having now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two separate first and second control means, said first control means being for shifting said movable element between said latch closing position and said latch opening position and said second control means being for shifting said movable element to said latch locking position, a rocker element, first connecting means operatively interconnecting said rocker element and said movable element so that movement of said movable element between said three positions is controlled by movement of said rocker element between three positions, second connecting means operatively interconnecting said first control means and said rocker element, third connecting means operatively interconnecting said second control means and said rocker element, connection between said first control means and said movable element consisting of said first and second connecting means and connection between said second control means and said movable element consisting of said first and third connecting means, and a device associated with said rocker element for preventing said rocker element from moving in a direction to shift said mova ble element to said latch opening position when said rocker element has been shifted by said second control means to a position in which said movable element is put in said latch locking position.

2. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two separate first and second control means, said first control means being for shifting said movable element between said latch closing position and said latch opening position and said second control means being for shifting said movable element to said latch locking position, a rocker element, first connecting means operatively interconnecting said rocker element and said movable element so that movement of said movable element between said three positions is controlled by movement of said rocker element between three positions, second connecting means operatively interconnecting said first control means and said rocker element, third connecting means operatively interconnecting said second control means and said rocker element, connection between said first control means and said movable element consisting of said first and second connecting means and connection between said second control means and said movable element consisting of said first and third connecting means, and a device associated with said rocker element for preventing said rocker element from moving in a direction to shift said movable element to said latch opening position when said rocker element has been shifted by said second control means to a position in which said movable element is put in said latch locking position, said first connecting means comprising a single rod connecting said rocker element to said movable element, said first control means comprising a first lever pivotably mounted on a first pin and directly pivoted to said rocker element, and said second control means comprising a pull-rod, a second lever rotatably mounted on a second pin and pivoted to said rocker element, said pull-rod being pivoted to said second lever, a plate with respect to which said first and second pins are fixed and a guide slot in said plate, said rocker element having a finger portion which is cooperative with said guide slot.

3. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions, namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two distinct first and second control means, said first control means controlling the opening of the latch, and said second control means controlling the locking of the latch, a rocker element operatively connected to each of said control means and to said movable element and a device associated with said rocker element and adapted to bring said rocker element to and lock it in a position in which said movable element is placed in said latch locking position when said second control means is brought to a latch locking position, said first connecting means comprising a single rod connecting said rocker element to said movable element, said first control means comprising a first lever pivotably mounted on a first pin and directly pivoted to said rocker element, and said second control means comprising a pull-rod, a second lever rotatably mounted on a second pin and pivoted to said rocker element, said pull-rod being pivoted to said second lever, a plate with respect to which said first and second pins are fixed and a guide slot in said plate, said rocker element having a finger portion which is cooperative with said guide slot, said slot being in the shape of an inverted L in which said finger portion of the rocker element is engagedsaid finger portion being guided in a first branch of the guide slot when said pull-rod is in a position in which said latch is unlocked and said first lever is shifted to a position for opening said latch, said finger portion being blocked in a second branch of said guide slot and preventing any movement of said first lever when said pull-rod is placed a position for locking said latch.

4. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions, namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two distinct first and second control means, said first control means controlling the opening of the latch, and said second control means controlling the locking of the latch, a rocker element operatively connected to each of said control means and to said movable element, and a device associated with said rocker element and adapted to bring said rocker element to and lock it in a position in which said movable element is placed in said latch locking position when said second control means is brought to a latch locking position, said first connecting means comprising a single rod connecting said rocker element to said movable element, said first control means comprising a first lever pivotably mounted on a first pin and directly pivoted to said rocker element, and said second control means comprising a pull-rod, a second lever rotatably mounted on a second pin and pivoted to said rocker element, said pull-rod being pivoted to said second lever, a plate with respect to which said first and second pins are fixed and a guide slot in said plate, said rocker element having a finger portion which is cooperative with said guide slot, said second lever having an oblong opening by means of which it is pivoted to said finger portion of said rocker element.

5. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions, namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two distinct first and second control means, said first control means controlling the opening of the latch, and said second control means controlling the locking of the latch, a rocker element operatively connected to each of said control means and to said movable element, and a device associated with said rocker element and adapted to bring said rocker element to and lock it in a position in which said movable element is placed in said latch locking position when said second control means is brought to a latch locking position, said first connecting means comprising a single rod connecting said rocker element to said movable element, said first control means comprising a first lever pivotably mounted on a first pin and directly pivoted to said rocker element, and said second control means comprising a pull-rod, a second lever rotatably mounted on a second pin and pivoted to said rocker element, said pull-rod being pivoted to said second lever, a plate with respect to which said first and second pins are fixed and a guide slot in said plate, said rocker element having a finger portion which is cooperative with said guide slot, said rocker element having an abutment which is in contact with a resiliently yieldable return means which biases said rocker element towards a position thereof corresponding to the latch closing position of said movable element.

6. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions, namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two distinct first and second control means, said first control means controlling the opening of the latch, and said second control means controlling the locking of the latch, a rocker element operatively connected to each of said control means and to said movable element, and a device associated with said rocker element and adapted to bring said rocker element to and lock it in a position in which said movable element is placed in said latch locking position when said second control means is brought to a latch locking position, said device comprising a toggle arrangement having means defining two toggle members interconnected by an articulation pin and interconnecting said two control means, said articulation pin being guided in a guide slot formed in a fixed plate adapted to be fixed relative to a door on which said latch is intended to be mounted, said rocker element being connected by a single rod to said movable element.

7. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising,means defining a support, a movable element capable of assuming three positions namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two separate first and second control means, said first control means being for shifting said movable element between said latch closing position and said latch opening position and said second control means being for shifting said movable element to said latch locking position, a rocker element, first connecting means operatively interconnecting said rocker element and said movable element so that movement of said movable element between said three positions is controlled by movement of said rocker element between three positions, second connecting means operatively interconnecting said first control means and said rocker element, third connecting means operatively interconnecting said second control means and said rocker element, connection between said first control means and said movable element consisting of said first and second connecting means and connection between said second control means and said movable element consisting of said first and third connecting means, and a device associated with said rocker element for preventing said rocker element from moving in a direction to shift said movable element to said latch opening position when said rocker element has been shifted by said second control means to a position in which said movable element is put in said latch locking position, said first control means comprising a first lever mounted to pivot between two extreme positions about a first axis fixed relative to said support and having a first end portion, a first pivot directly pivoting said end portion to said rocker element, said second control means comprising a second lever mounted to pivot about a second axis fixed relative to said support and having a second end portion, a second pivot directly pivoting said second end portion to said rocker element, said first end portion and said second end portion constituting a toggle arrangement movable to each side of a position in which said second axis and said first and second pivots are in alignment, a resiliently yieldable element supported by said support, a portion of said rocker element against which portion said yieldable element yieldably bears, said yieldable element acting on said portion of said rocker element in a direction which continuously biases said first lever through the intermediary of said rocker element toward an extreme position in which said first lever puts said movable element in said latch closing position and also biases said toggle arrangement on one side of said position of alignment when said second lever is in a position for locking said latch through the intermediary of said rocker element. 

1. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two separate first and second control means, said first control means being for shifting said movable element between said latch closing position and said latch opening position and said second control means being for shifting said movable element to said latch locking position, a rocker element, first connecting means operatively interconnecting said rocker element and said movable element so that movement of said movable element between said three positions is controlled by movement of said rocker element between three positions, second connecting means operatively interconnecting said first control means and said rocker eLement, third connecting means operatively interconnecting said second control means and said rocker element, connection between said first control means and said movable element consisting of said first and second connecting means and connection between said second control means and said movable element consisting of said first and third connecting means, and a device associated with said rocker element for preventing said rocker element from moving in a direction to shift said movable element to said latch opening position when said rocker element has been shifted by said second control means to a position in which said movable element is put in said latch locking position.
 2. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two separate first and second control means, said first control means being for shifting said movable element between said latch closing position and said latch opening position and said second control means being for shifting said movable element to said latch locking position, a rocker element, first connecting means operatively interconnecting said rocker element and said movable element so that movement of said movable element between said three positions is controlled by movement of said rocker element between three positions, second connecting means operatively interconnecting said first control means and said rocker element, third connecting means operatively interconnecting said second control means and said rocker element, connection between said first control means and said movable element consisting of said first and second connecting means and connection between said second control means and said movable element consisting of said first and third connecting means, and a device associated with said rocker element for preventing said rocker element from moving in a direction to shift said movable element to said latch opening position when said rocker element has been shifted by said second control means to a position in which said movable element is put in said latch locking position, said first connecting means comprising a single rod connecting said rocker element to said movable element, said first control means comprising a first lever pivotably mounted on a first pin and directly pivoted to said rocker element, and said second control means comprising a pull-rod, a second lever rotatably mounted on a second pin and pivoted to said rocker element, said pull-rod being pivoted to said second lever, a plate with respect to which said first and second pins are fixed and a guide slot in said plate, said rocker element having a finger portion which is cooperative with said guide slot.
 3. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions, namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two distinct first and second control means, said first control means controlling the opening of the latch, and said second control means controlling the locking of the latch, a rocker element operatively connected to each of said control means and to said movable element and a device associated with said rocker element and adapted to bring said rocker element to and lock it in a position in which said movable element is placed in said latch locking position when said second control means is brought to a latch locking position, said first connecting means comprising a single rod connecting said rocker element to said movable element, said first control means comprising a first lever pivotably mounted on a first pin and directly pivoted to said rocker element, and said second control means comprising a pull-rod, a second lever rotatably mounted on a second pin and pivoted to said rocker element, said pull-rod being pivoted to said second lever, a plate with respect to which said first and second pins are fixed and a guide slot in said plate, said rocker element having a finger portion which is cooperative with said guide slot, said slot being in the shape of an inverted L in which said finger portion of the rocker element is engaged,said finger portion being guided in a first branch of the guide slot when said pull-rod is in a position in which said latch is unlocked and said first lever is shifted to a position for opening said latch, said finger portion being blocked in a second branch of said guide slot and preventing any movement of said first lever when said pull-rod is placed a position for locking said latch.
 4. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions, namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two distinct first and second control means, said first control means controlling the opening of the latch, and said second control means controlling the locking of the latch, a rocker element operatively connected to each of said control means and to said movable element, and a device associated with said rocker element and adapted to bring said rocker element to and lock it in a position in which said movable element is placed in said latch locking position when said second control means is brought to a latch locking position, said first connecting means comprising a single rod connecting said rocker element to said movable element, said first control means comprising a first lever pivotably mounted on a first pin and directly pivoted to said rocker element, and said second control means comprising a pull-rod, a second lever rotatably mounted on a second pin and pivoted to said rocker element, said pull-rod being pivoted to said second lever, a plate with respect to which said first and second pins are fixed and a guide slot in said plate, said rocker element having a finger portion which is cooperative with said guide slot, said second lever having an oblong opening by means of which it is pivoted to said finger portion of said rocker element.
 5. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions, namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two distinct first and second control means, said first control means controlling the opening of the latch, and said second control means controlling the locking of the latch, a rocker element operatively connected to each of said control means and to said movable element, and a device associated with said rocker element and adapted to bring said rocker element to and lock it in a position in which said movable element is placed in said latch locking position when said second control means is brought to a latch locking position, said first connecting means comprising a single rod connecting said rocker element to said movable element, said first control means comprising a first lever pivotably mounted on a first pin and directly pivoted to said rocker element, and said second control means comprising a pull-rod, a second lever rotatably mounted on a second pin and pivoted to said rocker element, said pull-rod being pivoted to said second lever, a plate with respect to which said first and second pins are fixed and a guide slot in said plate, said rocker element having a finger portion which is cooperative with said guide slot, said rocker element having an abutment which is in contact with a resiliently yieldable return means which biases said rocker element towards a position thereof corresponding to the latch closing position of said movable element.
 6. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising a movable element capable of assuming three positions, namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two distinct first and second control means, said first control means controlling the opening of the latch, and said second control means controlling the locking of the latch, a rocker element operatively connected to each of Said control means and to said movable element, and a device associated with said rocker element and adapted to bring said rocker element to and lock it in a position in which said movable element is placed in said latch locking position when said second control means is brought to a latch locking position, said device comprising a toggle arrangement having means defining two toggle members interconnected by an articulation pin and interconnecting said two control means, said articulation pin being guided in a guide slot formed in a fixed plate adapted to be fixed relative to a door on which said latch is intended to be mounted, said rocker element being connected by a single rod to said movable element.
 7. An actuating mechanism for a latch comprising,means defining a support, a movable element capable of assuming three positions namely a latch closing position, a latch opening position and a latch locking position, two separate first and second control means, said first control means being for shifting said movable element between said latch closing position and said latch opening position and said second control means being for shifting said movable element to said latch locking position, a rocker element, first connecting means operatively interconnecting said rocker element and said movable element so that movement of said movable element between said three positions is controlled by movement of said rocker element between three positions, second connecting means operatively interconnecting said first control means and said rocker element, third connecting means operatively interconnecting said second control means and said rocker element, connection between said first control means and said movable element consisting of said first and second connecting means and connection between said second control means and said movable element consisting of said first and third connecting means, and a device associated with said rocker element for preventing said rocker element from moving in a direction to shift said movable element to said latch opening position when said rocker element has been shifted by said second control means to a position in which said movable element is put in said latch locking position, said first control means comprising a first lever mounted to pivot between two extreme positions about a first axis fixed relative to said support and having a first end portion, a first pivot directly pivoting said end portion to said rocker element, said second control means comprising a second lever mounted to pivot about a second axis fixed relative to said support and having a second end portion, a second pivot directly pivoting said second end portion to said rocker element, said first end portion and said second end portion constituting a toggle arrangement movable to each side of a position in which said second axis and said first and second pivots are in alignment, a resiliently yieldable element supported by said support, a portion of said rocker element against which portion said yieldable element yieldably bears, said yieldable element acting on said portion of said rocker element in a direction which continuously biases said first lever through the intermediary of said rocker element toward an extreme position in which said first lever puts said movable element in said latch closing position and also biases said toggle arrangement on one side of said position of alignment when said second lever is in a position for locking said latch through the intermediary of said rocker element. 